Since July 2011 I have a Google plus account. On this account I post about lots of things, but especially on art, fotography, architecture and design. Every week I have a specific theme, about which I make at least 4 posts that week. Here you'll find the collected posts of Anja Wessels' weekly Theme.

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Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Pencil week 6: The Pencil Sculptures of Dalton Ghetti

The Pencil Sculptures of Dalton Ghetti

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

Dalton's story: At the young age of 6 already, he began to learn how to handle tools when at school in Brazil, he and the other students used either a razor blade or a pocket knife to sharpen their pencils for drawing and writing.

When Dalton was 8 years old, his mother, a seamstress, taught him how to use a sewing needle to help her with simple projects like hemming and sewing buttons. At the age of 9, his parents gave him a set of metal tools for children, which he used to make his own boxes, toys and go-carts. This is when he began sculpting with knives, chisels and a hammer. Ever since, he has created many objects out of all kinds of materials.

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

At first, he carved large objects; but in 1986, as a challenge to himself and because of his interest in small living things, like plants (moss) and insects (spiders and ants), he decided to create the smallest possible carvings that he could see with his naked eyes. One day, he picked up a working pencil and started carving it.

Dalton's idea is to bring people’s attention to small things. Most of the pencils he uses are found on the streets and sidewalks. Dalton’s work is part of a recycling process. He happily turns discarded objects into art.

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

To create his sculpture, he holds the pencil in his hand under a strong light source and carves it mostly with a sewing needle and a very sharp, triangular, small, metal blade. He works at very small intervals: 1 to 2 hours maximum per day whenever he gets inspired. He works very slowly by removing specks of graphite at a time. It therefore takes months or sometimes years to complete a sculpture.

For Dalton, sculpting pencils is a hobby and a form of meditation, which requires a lot of patience. His pencil carvings are not for sale. He sculpts pencils mostly for himself. He wants to keep it that way. Source

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

Dalton M. Ghetti - Sculptures in Pencil

And of course it sometimes goes wrong, and the tip breaks off. The result of it you see in the last picture: The cemetery